You are here:

Food | Water fluoridation

Sink your teeth into something good

If you are what you eat, will eating lots of sugary snacks make your teeth as brittle as candy? It’s important to know how different foods affect your teeth and gums. So let’s take a look at what you need less and more of in your diet.

Better nutrition

One of the real keys to better nutrition is variety. Look at the following food groups and ask yourself if you're getting enough of each.

Bread, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles

Vegetables, legumes

Fruit

Milk, yoghurt, cheese

Lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts

Another good idea is to check food labels. Aim for a product that has less than 15g of sugar in there. Sometimes it’s not called sugar. Be on the lookout for things like honey, fructose, sucrose and glucose syrup.

Smarter snacks

Processed and packaged foods are often loaded up with sugar, salt and fat. The best way to avoid those kinds of unwanted extras is to make your own treats. Fruit Popsicles are always popular. Chop up some fruit and place it in disposable plastic cups. Pour fruit juice in and place Popsicle sticks in the mix. They'll come out of the freezer looking and tasting great.

Don't forget the humble apple. It’s the perfect addition to school lunches.